Towing device



April 20 1926. 1,581,515

. o. cooglcAN TOWING DEVICE Filed July 18 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet` 1 i me/nto? Oscar 'o'oZz'ca'n 551* Eff 5/ n A L I ,mfom- April 2o, 192e.

Filed July 18, 1925 I 1,581,515 o. cooLlcAN TOWING DEVICE l 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 JA 'I /4 scar ooZz'cwz `Patented Apr. 20, 19.26..

. 1 oscnn cooLicAm or '.wasiiineron, nis'inicr or COLUMBIA.

Towmc i niivrcii.

Appiicaiion filed :riiiy is, i925. sei-iai lkeine?. y

To aZZ'wViom it may concern:

Be it known that Osciin GooLicAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 2222 Q StN. W., in the city of Washington and District of Columbia, has invented: certain new andy useful Improvements in ,Towing l Devices,of which the following is a specilication. y

This invention relates to tow-ing devices and more particularly to a devicel for towing motorcycles of the side car type.

At present, in the operation'of garages,

service stations and the like, it is necessary when it `is'. desired to send out and bring a motor vehicle back to the garage from some distant point, to utilize the yservices of two nien, one to drive the motor vehicle Iback to the garage `and one .to transport the driver to the designated point, which iii the interest Vof economy is accomplished by the use of a motorcycle of the side cart-ype.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a towing means for use in connection with a motorcycle of the side car type 'whereby itis only neceslsaryto utilize the servicesof one man instead of twoiiisendingout for andbi'inging back `motor vehicles toa givenpoint;

'Another object of the invention is to provide aA motorcycle with a towing. device adapted to be detachably connected to the rear ofL a motor vehicle out the liability of its turning-,over in rounding curves. i w

` A further objectV of the invention is to provide a motorcycle with a towing 'device adapted ,to be quickly connected to the rear of a motoryvehicle, and means for retaining the towing device in inoperative position on the motorcycle when not being usedfor towing purposes. r i

A still further object of the invention-is to provide lthe towing device with a novel form of attaching means, whereby it can be quickly .and readily detachably connectedto some convenient part on the-rear of the motor vehicle for towing purposes. y

Vitli these and other objects in view, the

invention comprises lthe various novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter appear and be shown in the accompanying draw-V ings.

whereby the motorcycle may .be conveniently towed and with- 1 -is pivotally connected to one end of a unil Referring to the drawings: y

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a motorcycle of the side car type showing the towing'device arranged in inoperative or normal carrying position. e e

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the towing device `connected to the rear part'of a lmotor vehicle, in this instance the rear bumper. i y y Figure l3 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation, taken on the line 3-3 in wFigure 2.

Figure 4 isa diagrammatic view ofthe y attaching means or clamp, showing the various parts separated.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan viewtaken on the .linea `5 5 of jFigure 3. A

Figure o is ka vertical sectional l view through `the resilient retaining means, ar.

ranged in operative position. l v.

Figure 7 s a sectional plan view takenon the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

. lReferring to the drawings `more particulaijly, the numeral l represents a motorcycle of the side car type, upon .thefront part of which is arranged my novel form of towing Adevice 2. In detail, the invention lcomprises a draftbar 3 having one end formed to proi vide a vfork 4, the arms 5 of which are piv- I otally mounted at their terminal ends on the front axle 6, so that the towing device can be readily lowered `and raised when desired. The other or forward end of the draft bar versal member v7 for lateral swinging movement by means of'a bolt 8, `while the oppo- -site end of theuniversal member is pivotallyconnected'to a member 9 for vertical swinging movement by a bolt 10.

j By particular reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the member 9 is rigidly carried by lthe female member 1 1 of a clamping melans-wliereby the draft bar canbe detachab y other suitable part of a motor vehicle forv connected to the rear bumper or somev l 14, while the upper `part is provided with a notches 19 of aavidtli'about equal to theV thickness of the female member andthe facing carried by it. kThese notches extend mwardly of the tongue to provide'a bodypor-A tion 21 0f a width `about equal tothat of the slot 13, whereby Awhen the ltongue has been inserted through the slot 14 the desired distance, it may then be adjusted vertically.y

In other words,by this lateral 'and vertical adjustment, the clamping members 11 and 16 can be quickly brought into engagement with. the sides and "bottom part of the bumper 22. f

The upper part of the male member 16y is provided centrally with a Avertical slot 23 adapted to adjustably receive the shank ofv a clamping bolt 24. lAligningV depressions D2K5 are formed on opposite sides of the slot 23 Y in the outer face of thel male member 16 and are adapted to accommodate the T-head 26 of the clamping bolt,'while the opposite end vof the latter extends through the aperture with `a bearing washer 27 and a winged nut To complete the adjustment of the clamping means, fthe female memberis lowered until the clamping bolt rests on the upper part of the bumper bar, then the winged nut 28 is tightened until theT-head 2G rests in the adjacent depressions 215 andthe 'male and female members are clamped tight against the sides of the bumper bar. To detach the clamping means, it i's-*merely necv essary to loosen the nut 28, disengage the T- .head 26 from the depressions 25,tlien rotate the T-head into alignment with theslot 23 so that when the tongue 18 has Vbeen lowered to the cross slot 14, the two parts of the;

clamping means can be vreadily pulled apart. After detachment, the parts ymaythen be reassembled until it is desired to use them `By' virtue `of clamping means ofthe above described character, it will be seen the ad- -justment isf of such a largerange" that the `clamping means can be quickly andreadily connected to any convenient part'on the rear of al motor vehicle, irrespective'of the particular shape of the part to which it is connected. While I have described one particular vformV of clamping orf attaching means, I desire to have it understood that Vtowing.-y 15 of the female member 11 and'isprovided any other forni of attaching means may be used as is within the scope of the invention. A When the towing device is not in use, it is normally carried in a fixed upright position on the front of the motorcycle as .shown in Figure 1. Tohold thedevice in this position, suitable resilient retaining means is. provided which in this instance consists of a cylindrical tube 29 having a pair of spaced ears 30 on its upper or outer end adapted to embrace an apertured ear 31 carried by the draft bar 3. A` removablepivot pin' 32 is used to pivotall connect the ears 30 and 31 and Vis connecter vto tlieftube 29 by a flexible elen'ient `33'toprcvent fits being lost.; 34 is cotter key extending throughan aperture in' the' outer ,endof the pin to hold it in operative position.- 'The lower end of the tube 29 is closed by a screwl cap 25. y p y p Slidably rarranged within the `tube 29 and through thevcap 35 is'afplu'n-'ger rod 36hav-l ing a head 37.1 Compression springs38 and 39 are positioned in the tube 29 on opposite sides of the plunger head v37 andvr serve to cushion the towing devicey under normal The lower end ofthe riding conditions. plunger rod is pi'votally connected rto a hinge member 4() fixed to any suitableopart of the motorcycle; 41 is a U-shapedf spring retaining member iixed tothe motorcycle fender or other appropriate part adaptedto receive and hold the tube 29 in inoperative position while Ythe towing device is being used for From the foregoing description, the advantages of construction, and the method of operation will :be readily apparentto one p skilled in the art to which lthe invention relates, and while I have described the prin- "cip'l'eof' operationof the invention, together lwith the device which I now consider to vbe 'the best embodiment' thereof, I desireto Hhave -itundersto-od that such changes 'may be -made' as are within the scope of the appended claims. f

IA claim: y

1.YIn combi-nation with a motorcycle of the side 'ca r type5fa towingv device permanently mounted upon the motorcycle, means for connecting' th e. towing devicel to a motor 'vehicle for 'towing' the' motorcycle, and Ymeansffor holdingthe towingV device when not in use in upright position on `the motor- 2. In combination 'with a motorcycle of the sidecar type, a towing device pivotally mounted upon the `motorcycle,:means l for detacli'ably connectingthe towing device yto a mo'tor vehicle for'towing the motorcycle., and resilient-means carried by the lmotorcycle .adapted to be connected to thetowy ing device for holding it up'in inoperative 4position on the motorcycle.' i 3. In combination with ay motorcycle, a

towingy device pivotally mounted on-firthe front axle ofthe motorcycle, means for detachably connecting the towing device to a vehicle for towing the motorcycle, and means carried by the mud guard ofthe motorcycle adapted to hold the towing device when swung into' upright position.

4. Inl combination with a motorcycle of the Vside car type, a towing device pivotally mounted upon the motorcycle, means for detachably connecting the towing device to a motor vehicle for towing the motorcycle, means embodied within the towing device to permit of vertical and lateral movement of the device when arranged in operative psition, and shock absorbing means for holding the towing device in upright position and cushioning vibration of said device under riding conditions.

5. In combination with a motorcycle of the side car type, a towing device pivotally mounted on the motorcycle, means for connecting the towingl device to a motor vehicle, and resilient retaining means for holding the towing device when not in use in upright position, said resilient retaining means adapted also to cushion the device under normal riding conditions. f

6. In combination with a motorcycle of the side car type, a towing device comprising a draft bar having one end bifurcated to provide fork arms, the terminal ends of said fork arms being' pivotally mounted upon the front axle, attaching means carried by.

the other end of the draft bar whereby the device may be connected to a motor vehicle, and resilient retaining meansfor holding the draft bar when not in use in an upright position.

7. In combination with a motorcycle of the side car type, a towing device compris-` ing a draft bar having` one end bifurcated to provide fork arms, the terminal ends of which are pivotally mounted upon the front axle, a universal joint carried by the free end of the draft bar, attaching means fixed to the universal joint adapted to be connected to a motor vehicle, and resilient retaining means for holding the draft bar when not in use in an upright position on the motorcycle.

8. In combination with a motorcycle of the side car type, a towing device comprising a draft bar having one end bifurcated to provide fork arms, the terminal ends of which are pivotally mounted on the front axle, a universal joint carried by the free end of the draft bar, adjustable'attaching means fixed to the universal joint whereby it may be attached to any suitable part of a motor vehicle for towing, and resilient` retaining means for holding the draft bar whennot in use in an upright position on the motor'- cycle.

9. In a towing device of the character deingmale and female'` members, and'mea'ns for' adjustably connecting said memberstogether. f

10; In `a towing device ofthe character described, adjustable attachingl means comprising male and female members, means for connecting said members together, and means for adjusting said members laterally and' vertically with respect to each other.

11. In a towing device'of the character described, adjustable attaching means comprising male and female members, a nonmetallic facing carried by each of said male and female n'1embers,cmeans for adjustably connecting said members together, and means for adjusting' said members laterally and vertically with respect to each other.

12. In a towing device of the character' described, adjustable attaching means comprising a female member provided in its lower part with an inverted T-shaped slot and in its upper end with anV aperture, a

male member formed with an angular ex- Y tending notched tongue on its lower end adapted for lateraland vertical adjustment in said inverted T-shaped slot of the female member and a slot in its upper part, the outer face of said member also being formed with aligning depressions on opposite sides of the slot, a clamping bolt having a T-head adapted to be adjustably positioned in said aligning depressions, said bolt extending through axle, a universal joint connected to the outer end of the draft'bar, attaching means fixed to the universal joint, and resilient cushioning means fixed to the motorcycle and adapt-V ed to be connected to the draft bar` when raised to an upright position to hold the device in an effectual inoperative position.

14. In a towing device of the character described, the combination with a motorcycle, of a draft bar pivotally mounted on the front axle for vertical swinging movement, an apertured ear carried by the draft bar, a cylindrical tube having a pair of spaced ears on its upper end adapted to embrace said apertured ear, a removable pivot pin for connecting said ears together, a lcap closing the lower end of said cylindrical tube, a plunger rod having a head slidably mounted in said tube, compression springs arranged in said tube-on opposite sides of the plunger head, means for pivotally connecting the outer freev end of the plunger rod to the motorcycle, andmeans carried by the motorcycle forl retaining the cylindrical tube in inoperative position.

15.v In a towing' device of the character described, the combination with amotorcycle, of a draft bar pivotally mounted on the front axle for vertical swinging movement, a cylindrical tube, a cap closing one end of said cylindrical tube, a plunger rod having a head Slidably mounted in said tube, compression springs arranged in said tube on opposite sides of said head, means forl pivotally connecting theouter free end of the n the cylindrical tube to said draft bar When sk swung into upright position, and a U-shaped spring carried by the motorcycle adapted to receive and hold the cylindrical tube when disconnected from the draft bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OSCAR COOLICAN` 

